Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-24
A WINTER JOURNEY.
WILD DECEMBER ExPBRIEsCEs IN
The YELLOWSTONE PARK.
Los, In n Snow Storm Three Days Hun.
gry and sleepless- Neuntain
Lions and Elk.
Tuolern Independent

|
TOR TO the history OF the Yellowstone
| National Park. tie is the first artist
who has the courage and endurance to
make the grand circuit OF the park in
one OF the most severe winters that has
beep known in the Rocky mountains
for several years. In thirty-three days
he has succeeded in placing his
Gamers at the foot Of the great geyseis,
beneath Ike great falls in the bot
tom of the Grand canyon OF the Yet
lovstore, in the steep slow-coyered
peaks of Mount Wsshburn, and carries
with bin The winter aspects OF GeyseF,
CANYON. and crog. clothed in crystal
drape1v so beautiful as to surpass, in
the deiicate frost work on tree. shruO,
and spire. all that summer can produce
when her green mantle OF leaf and
moss and fem and flower is spread over
mountain and valley.
On January 9Th Lieutenant Schwatia
and Professor Haynes started together
Lieutenant Tutherly, in command at
Camp Sheridan, carried the whole
party, baggage, tents, and toboggans.
through Golden Gate rs far as Swan
lake with the Government teams. The
deep snow drifts rendered it impossible
for mules to 60 beyond Swan laae.
The party soon after parting with the
teams. finding that the snow was too soft
20 bear their own weight, let alone the
dragging Of toboggans heavily loaded
L 4 80 Il =
ScLvGtka that the snow OF Alaska and
that Of the ational PARK were unlike
in this That the former would bear up
almost any weight, while the latter Was
net only loose bUt continually drifting
so that they were also contending with
high winds that swept the fallen and
falling snow into one tumultuous snow
cloud that necessarily rovolved between
ceIih and sky, making it almost impos-
sible 10 follow any direction. The
trees, though well blazed in sumror
were wrapped in mantle of snow,
neprly obliteratingali the ordinary land
marks. The mountain peaks were also
Invisible amid the drift, so that those
well accustomed to the roads had TO
travel by faith and not by sight.
After struggling with these difficulties
for one mile the chiefs OF the expedi-
ton consulted. and It Was resolved to
abandon ali the baggage, tents, and pro-
visions. taking only what food they
could carry in their pockets and the ne
cessary photograpLing and sketching
instruments, and push on to Norris
basin. 1hc sky cleared long enough 10
secure some fine views of Glass noun
tain and the neighboring snow-peaEs.
Professors Haynes and Bose also -
cured sone magnificent views with
camera and pencil in the Norris basin.
Tie Monarch geyser was
GLORIOUS aPEcTACLE.
II YVES impossible, during eruption,
To distinguish where the torrid wave
ended and The vertical cloud began,
that terminated in a crown OF fieecy
clouds LOCO feet above the crater.
When the sun, after I'D A. NJ, suc-
ccodCd in dissipating the clouds th9'
enveloped the whole basin, it presented
the Appearance of very busy manu-
featuring city, with its 10000 smOkiny
chimneys where 100000 wheels
might be revolving in the produc-
ton Of ell that complex civillzn
ton requires. After one day spent
in the Norris basin the entire party
started fer the Lower-Geyser basin IN
light marching order, taking nothing
but the necessary implements aud
enough food 20 last one day. The n
tiguc OF the past three days, the expo
sure, and the intense cold so severely
effected Lieutenant Schwatka's lungs
that he wes threatened with pneumonia
notwithstanding which he persisted
in going on with his party until
they reached Old Badly, a pecu-
liarlv. shaped tree on the south
en- slope of the Norris range and abont
four miles from the Norris Hotel, from
where they started in the morning
Here profuse hemorrhage of the lungs
set in, and after consultation the Lieu
tenant WAS persuaded to return to Nor
ris, accompanied by Jack Barronett,
who was also III an unfit condition for
tie Journey on account of an old injury
10 his foot that was now mnch aggrd-
waited by having to lift the long snow
shoes. often weighted down with snow
constantly falling upon the upper SIR
face.
lie party found some difficulty in
crossing the Gibbcn river. The Col
den ford was not deep, but it was de-
sirable to avoid wcttinG the feet. John
". Coho led the way below the ford to
whore a tree had fallen across the
stream. The snow had accumulated 50
much that this natural bridge had the
appearance OF having two or more trees
Wing side by side. Under this impress
sion the unsuspectinS guide walked Oh
and found but a single small tree.
Down he went plump
INTO THE RIVER;
ell the others got over dry shod About
3 o'clocl. at night they reached the Fire
hole Hotel, where James Dean and h
excellent spouse made the party rs
comloItsble as they could. A warm
supper and comfortable bed restored
Il cIn 10 their normal condition, and
they were all ready to prosecute their
Journey next day.
When it was apparent that Lieuten-
ant Schwatl,a could no longer head this
EXP, dition be generously requested that
Professor Haynes select men TO accom-
pauy him and go on. The Professor
;elected David Stratton and Charles A.
Stoddard, and also tclephoned to Nam
moth Hot Springs for Edward
Wilson to join him at the Up
per Geyser basin. One of the
Schwatka party deserves special
mention Joseph W. Bracket,
seventy-fye years OF age. an old
veteran of the United States navy, ac-
companied bis party the whole journey,
enduring hunger, cold, and fatigue,
and performing his share OF the duties
incident to the expedition. This royal
son OF Neptune came ont as fresh as
any of them. He declares his purpose
of returning to the National Park when
il lays aside its pallid mantle OF deathly
white and dons its varIegated garb OF
summer.
A storm of five days and nights iu-
ration made it impossible for Professor
HAYNES 70 secure the winter views,
which ives the object OF his expedition.